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MIAMI – A national initiative to reduce sports-related concussions in every state will be announced by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist during Super Bowl week at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. The principles of the initiative were established by the Zackery Lystedt Law in the State of Washington. The Zackery Lystedt Brain Project is spearheaded by the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation in partnership with the American College of Sports Medicine. The Miller School is the foundation’s National Lead Center for acute care in brain injury.
The initiative is named after 17-year-old Zackery Lystedt, who sustained a debilitating brain injury playing football in 2006 after returning to play too quickly following a concussion. The State of Washington passed the Zackery Lystedt Law in May 2009. The law requires educating youth athletes, their parents and coaches about the risks associated with concussion and head injuries, removing athletes from play if a concussion is suspected, and requiring medical clearance by a licensed healthcare provider before sending them back into a game, practice or training. Oregon last year also passed a similar measure, dubbed “Max’s Law”. The goal of the Zackery Lystedt Brain Project is to advance the core principles throughout the country through public awareness, training, legislation and further research.
WHO:
* The Honorable Charles J. Crist Jr., Governor of Florida
* Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
* Also participating will be representatives from the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation, the American College of Sports Medicine, the Washington Brain Injury Association, the Oregon Brain Injury Association and many leading experts in youth sports concussions
WHAT:
Zackery Lystedt Brain Project – national initiative dealing with youth sports concussions
WHERE:
Lois Pope Life Center (7th Floor APEX Auditorium)
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
1095 Northwest 14th Terrace
Miami, Florida
WHEN:
Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. EST
The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation has been working since October 2007 to improve the system of care for children and young adults (up to age 25) with brain injuries. The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine was named in June 2009 as the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation’s National Lead Center for Acute Care, as part of a network of 52 State Lead Centers of Excellence to better prevent, identify and treat all Pediatric Acquired Brain Injuries (PABIs). PABI is the number one cause of death and disability for children and young adults in the United States. The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world.